We need to have a serious conversation.
We are wizards with a heat press. We run top-of-the-line industrial DTF printers that can capture millions of colors and details finer than a strand of hair. But there is one thing we cannot do: We cannot fix a bad file.
If you send us a low-resolution screenshot you took from Instagram on your phone, your shirts are going to look like 8-bit video games from 1985.
In the printing game, there is a golden rule: Garbage In, Garbage Out. Here is why your files might be getting rejected (or printing poorly) and how to fix it so your brand looks premium.
1. The "72 DPI" Trap
Screens and printers speak different languages.
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Screens (Phones/Laptops): Display images at 72 DPI (Dots Per Inch). They only need to look good glowing on a small glass rectangle.
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Printers (DTF): Need 300 DPI minimum. We are putting physical ink onto film.
When you take a screenshot, you are capturing a 72 DPI image. On your phone, it looks crisp. But when we blow that up to 11 inches wide for a hoodie back, those 72 dots have to stretch. The result? Pixelation. Blur. Trash.
The Fix: Never use a screenshot. Always export your file from your design software (Photoshop, Illustrator, Canva) at 300 DPI at the actual size you want it printed.
2. The "White Box" of Shame
This is the most common rookie mistake. You find a logo on Google Images. It looks like it has no background because the background is white. You upload the JPEG.
Here is the reality: DTF printers print white ink. If you send us a JPEG with a white background, we will print a giant, solid white square across your chest with a logo inside it. It looks like a cheap bumper sticker and it feels like a plastic chest plate.
The Fix: You need Transparency. You must remove the background and save the file as a PNG or a PDF. If you open your file and you don't see the grey-and-white checkerboard pattern behind your art, you typically don't have a transparent background.
3. Vector vs. Raster (The "Infinite Zoom")
There are two types of images:
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Raster (Pixels): Like a painting. If you zoom in, you see blocks. (JPEG, PNG).
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Vector (Math): Like a blueprint. Lines are defined by math, not pixels. You can resize a vector from a business card to a billboard and it will stay razor sharp. (AI, EPS, SVG, PDF).
If you are designing text or logos, Vector is King. If you have the option to send us a Vector PDF, do it. It guarantees the crispest edges possible.
4. Canva Users: Read This
We know a lot of you use Canva. It’s a great tool, but you have to save it correctly.
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Click Share > Download.
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File Type: PNG.
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CHECK THE BOX that says "Transparent Background" (You need Canva Pro for this).
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Drag the "Size" slider all the way to the right (to get the highest resolution).
The Bottom Line
We want your brand to win. We want your shirts to look like they came out of a high-end boutique, not a bootleg stand.
Take the time to prep your art. If you can’t do it, pay a graphic designer $20 on Fiverr to "vectorize" your logo. It is the best $20 you will ever spend on your business.
Got a crisp, 300 DPI file ready to go?
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